Bachelor in International Business Management (trinational)
Trinational experience, international perspective
Key data
- Degree
- International Business Management - Bachelor of Science FHNW - Bachelor of Arts DHBW - Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie UHA - Licence Gestion UHA
- ECTS points
- 210
- Next start
- September each year (calendar week 39)
- Studying mode
- Full time
- Duration
- 3.5 years (incl. internship)
- Teaching language
- EN, FR, DE
- Place
- Colmar (Semster 1+4), Lörrach (Semester 2+5), Basel (Semester 3+6)
- Stay abroad
- Recommended
- Semester fee
- CHF 750 (for residents of Switzerland) For details see fees*
Study places are limited and very popular. Early registration is strongly recommended.
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Our programme is designed with you in mind. The Bachelor of Science in International Business Management (trinational) is unique:
- Study in 3 languages (En, Fr, De), in 3 countries (in Basel, Colmar and Lörrach)
- Gain business experience in 3 integrated internships
- Earn 4 bachelor’s degrees from three different countries
You will study and work with classmates from Germany, France and Switzerland. You and your class will change country and the tuition language every semester:
- Semesters 1 and 4 in French at the Université de Haute Alsace (UHA) in Colmar
- Semesters 2 and 5 in German at the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) in Lörrach
- Semesters 3 and 6 in English at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) in Basel
In this trinational programme you will gain international business knowledge through multicultural lectures, group work and projects (Module overview). The programme also includes three integrated internships, which are completed between semesters and after the sixth semester
Due to the integrated internships, it is possible to start the trinational programme DIRECTLY after your gymnasiale Matura, Fachmatura or Berufsmatura - no previous work experience is needed. We accept all Baccalaureates issued in 2020.
"It is great to study in three different countries and languages."
On successful completion of the programme you will be awarded four internationally recognized bachelor’s degrees:
- Bachelor of Science FHNW
- Bachelor of Arts DHBW
- Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie UHA
- Licence Gestion UHA
The organizational and intercultural challenges of this trinational degree programme will prepare you in a practical way for an internationally connected working environment and will offer you a variety of capabilities and resources for a successful career.
International Business Management students are able to act successfully in changing international labour market conditions. They are trained to communicate skillfully in German, French, and English as well as having the opportunity to take elective language courses such as Spanish and Chinese. Most important of all is their ability to see the world through the eyes of others. The degree programme develops managers with outstanding cross-cultural competence who are mobile and flexible and who are keen to go on learning throughout life. Most of the graduates have become managers in international organizations and corporations or project leaders of multicultural teams. They have been offered attractive job positions with major corporations in Europe and around the world, typically as project managers, product managers, marketing managers, Human Resource (HR) specialists, business analysts, key account managers, supply chain specialists, purchasing managers and consultants, etc. Many successful graduates go on to study at master’s level, for example the MSc in International Management at our School of Business. Others study in master’s programmes that specialize in areas such as economics, banking and finance, marketing or HR, either in Switzerland or abroad.
Internships, or live projects, permit students to apply their skills to addressing a question or challenge faced by the company and to build a bridge between classroom theory and real-world application. Students from Switzerland complete a total of 48 weeks of internships (full time) in order to obtain their degrees. They undertake an internship of at least 12 weeks each summer and, if they wish, also during the shorter winter breaks. The longer final internship (12-24 weeks) takes place during the 7th semester.
During their internships, students receive valuable insight into the activities of their companies and are given the opportunity to get involved in challenging projects. It is recommended that at least one internship is undertaken abroad, outside the three partner countries (CH, D, F).
Writing theses based on their internships allows students to reflect on their work practice in the light of the theory and models they have learned about in class.
The BUT (Diplome Universitaire de Technologie) thesis, a report on the students' first internship, is written during the second year and is presented in an oral examination to a jury in order to pass the second year.
The Bachelor thesis is written during the seventh semester internship and presented to a trinational jury in order to obtain the Swiss Bachelor of Science, the German Bachelor of Arts and the French Licence Gestion degree. Both theses can be authored and orally defended in English, German or French.
Students with high marks may also spend one of semesters 3 to 6 abroad at one of our many partner universities worldwide.
Buddy programmes, summer schools and study trips offer further possibilities to prepare for the challenges of the modern working world in an international environment. Interested?
Here you can find out more about the following topics:
- Exchange and Mobility
- University with children
- Military service, civilian service and civil defence
- Tuition fees
- Grants and loans
Die Vorbereitungskurse für das Studium an der Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW sind für zukünftige Studierende gedacht, die entweder eine nicht kaufmännische Berufsmatura haben, deren kaufmännische Berufsmatura länger zurück liegt oder die sich in einem oder mehreren Kernfächern unsicher fühlen.
Bildungszentrum Brugg BWZ: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen, Mathematik und Englisch
Handelsschule KV Basel: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen und Mathematik
Weitere Angebote können Sie direkt bei den jeweiligen Anbietern anfragen.
It is possible to start the trinational programme DIRECTLY after your gymnasiale Matura, Fachmatura or Berufsmatura - no previous work experience is needed.
Note regarding Matura 2020: We also accept all Baccalaureates issued in 2020 (according to admission requirements).
Applicants must have a good level of written and spoken German, French and English (at least level B1, ideally level B2 of the Common European Framework). Interviews are held with eligible candidates. During the interview the suitability of candidates is assessed (including their linguistic ability in German, English and French).
Education | Admission requirement | Additional work experience and competencies |
Berufsmatura, commercial | Interview | None. |
Berufsmatura, other than commercial Gymnasiale Matura Wirtschaftsmittelschule (with BM) Fachmatura | Interview | None, 1 year desirable |
German FH-Reife | Not admitted | - |
Transfer from Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences | Determination of equivalence |
Prospective students residing in Germany can register for the trinational study programme International Business Management via dual partners of the DHBW. Find more information here.
Prospective students residing in France can register via the UHA. Find more information here.
The programme starts each year in late September, calendar week 39.
There is a limited amount of places available for applicants from Switzerland and demand is high.
Applications are processed as they arrive. There is no official application deadline, but it is advisable to apply early enough.
Description | ||
Registration fee | once | CHF 200 |
Personal course fee | per semester | CHF 750* |
Materials and software licenses | per semester | CHF 50 |
students.fhnw association support | per semester | CHF 10 |
(1) A separate registration fee has to be paid for each programme you register for.
(2) For students domiciled in a Swiss canton or in the Principality of Liechtenstein with legal entitlement to a grant, for Expatriate Swiss citizens or for students domiciled in a Swiss canton, who are holders of a residence permit that has not been issued specially for their studies. For other students, please contact the secretariat.
*Personal course fee for EU or EFTA citizens: CHF 1'000.00 per semester
*Personal course fee for Non-European citizens: CHF 5'700.00 per semester
Fees and regulations (PDF in German, valid from academic year 2025/2026)
Regulations School of Business (in German)
On request an english translation is available: ccc.olten@fhnw.ch
1st and 4th semester: in French, Université de Haute Alsace, Colmar, France
2nd and 5th semester: in German, Dualen Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Lörrach Germany
3rd and 6th semester: in English, School of Business FHNW, Basel, Switzerland
Flyer Bachelor International Business Management (trinational) (PDF)
Flyer Bachelor degree programmes (PDF in German)
Social Media FHNW School of Business
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